A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kathmandu vs. Dubrovnik for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kathmandu or Dubrovnik?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kathmandu and Dubrovnik can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Kathmandu or Dubrovnik?

Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic", is a beautiful walled city in southern Croatia that sits on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. It's a small city, with only about 40,000 residents, but it's become one of the most significant tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city was historically built on maritime trade, which is not surprising given its location near major Italian and Greek ports such as Venice, Bari, Corfu, and Trieste. It was a center of language and literature and was the home of many important poets, playwrights, painters, and scientists during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today its economy is dependent on tourism and it is one of the most popular destinations in the region. People visit the city for its impressive history, beautiful setting, great weather, and interesting architecture.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best 2-Week Tours from Split, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Croatia.


Which place is cheaper, Dubrovnik or Kathmandu?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $54, while the average daily cost in Dubrovnik is $106. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Kathmandu and Dubrovnik in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kathmandu $38
    Dubrovnik $55
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kathmandu $76
    Dubrovnik $110
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Dubrovnik

Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu or Dubrovnik? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Kathmandu


Hotels in Dubrovnik


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Kathmandu Hotel Prices and Dubrovnik Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kathmandu $6.95
    Dubrovnik $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:

  • Kathmandu to Pokhara Transfer by jeep (Scarpio): $488
  • Kathmandu to Lumbini or Sunauli Border Transfer by Luxury Private Vehicle: $300
  • Scenic Everest Mountain Flight Tour With Transfers: $299
  • Private Mini-Van Transfer From / To Kathmandu and Pokhara: $274
  • Thamel: Trishuli River Rafting Tour with Transfers and Lunch: $250
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
  • 3-Day Chitwan Safari Tour with Hotel Transfers: $195
  • From Kathmandu To Ramechhap Airport - Private Transfer: $172
  • From Bungee Jump over Bhotekosi River & Transfer: $160
  • Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu: $152
  • Private cycle tour from Nagarkot to Bhaktapur via Changu Narayan with transfers: $151
  • From One-Way Private Transfer to Pokhara: $149

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubrovnik

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubrovnik:


  • Bus Around Town
    $1.56

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubrovnik

Also for Dubrovnik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Shared Airport Transfer to/from City Center: $11
  • Porter Service, Baggage Transfer, Baggage pick up & delivery.: $17
  • Private transfer from Dubrovnik airport to Dubrovnik city: $22
  • Night Transfer from Dubrovnik Old Port to New Port by Karaka Boat: $22
  • Transfer from Dubrovnik airport to Dubrovnik: $22
  • Bus transfer between Dubrovnik and Herceg Novi: $23
  • Private transfer from Dubrovnik to Dubrovnik airport: $24
  • Return transfer to Dubrovnik airport: $25
  • Dubrovnik Luxury Airport Transfers: $27
  • Airport Private Transfer Dubrovnik: $28
  • From Dubrovnik Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Dubrovnik: $28
  • Dubrovnik hotels to Dubrovnik Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $29

Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Dubrovnik?

Prices for flights to both Dubrovnik and Kathmandu change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Kathmandu $8.48
    Dubrovnik $36
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Dessert
    $1.35
  • Dinner for Two
    $3.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.

  • Momo Making and Cooking class in Kathmandu: $9.46
  • Half Day cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu by Local Chefs: $10
  • Nepali Cooking Class & Hotel Pickup: $11
  • Best Half day cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu: $11
  • Cultural Dinner Show with Traditional Dance: $17
  • Private Cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu - 4 Hours: $22
  • Half Day Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Visit: $23
  • Half-Day Immersive Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with pickup: $25
  • Nepal: Dinner at a Local Home with a Local Family: $26
  • Private Cooking Class with Transfers and Lunch: $27
  • Kathmandu Culinary Adventure: A Cooking Class Experience: $27
  • Embark on a Culinary Voyage: Cooking Class in Kathmandu: $28

Typical Food Prices in Dubrovnik

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubrovnik:


  • Seafood Dinner (for 2)
    $32

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubrovnik

For Dubrovnik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Sunset Dinner Cruise around the Old Town: $81
  • Food Tour: Taste Dubrovnik: $98
  • Secrets of traditional Dalmatian cuisine with a cooking class: $129
  • Old Town Food Tour: $146
  • Dubrovnik Old Town Food Tour: Small-Group Experience: $149
  • Cooking Classes Traditional Meals of Konavle region: $180
  • 3 Hour Sites and Bites Food Tour in Dubrovnik: $194
  • Traditional Dalmatian Cooking Class from Dubrovnik: $201
  • Traditional Cooking Class in Dubrovnik Countryside: $204
  • Pelješac Full-Day Wine and Food Tour from Dubrovnik: $212
  • Private Dinner with Wine and Homemade Tapas: $217
  • Dubrovnik Food Tour with Friendly Local Guide: $229

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kathmandu $8.03
    Dubrovnik $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Monkey Temple for Two
    $1.50
  • Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two
    $3.75
  • Swayambhunath Stupa
    $1.50

Tours and Activities in Kathmandu

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:

  • Luxury Tourist Bus to Chitwan from Kathmandu : $22
  • Manakamana Darshan- Day Tour: $199
  • One Day Tour inside Chitwan National Park: $117
  • Private Full Day Tour In Kathmandu City: $115
  • Private Kathmandu Day Tour: $70
  • "Off-The-Beaten-Path" Tour around Kathmandu : $70
  • 1 Day Cycling Tour in Kathmandu: $313
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Shopping Tour Experience: $100
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $58
  • 1 Day Volunteer Tour at Orphanage in Kathmandu: $274
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Kathmandu: $155
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara or Kathmandu: $141

Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubrovnik

For Dubrovnik, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Boat to Lokrum Island (for 2)
    $15
  • Dubrovnik City Wall Tour (for 2)
    $58
  • Dubrovnik Cable Car (for 2)
    $49

Tours and Activities in Dubrovnik

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubrovnik.

  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.26
  • Selfguided tour of the old town of Dubrovnik: $5.43
  • Self-guided tour of the old town of Dubrovnik: $5.51
  • City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.52
  • Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.52
  • Dubrovnik Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.61
  • Medieval Adventure City Game: $7.05
  • Time Travel Adventure Outdoor Escape Game in Dubrovnik: $7.15
  • Historic Center Self-Guided Audio Tour (ENG): $7.70
  • Shell Museum Private Guided Tour: $7.71
  • Old Town Highlights Tour with Audio Guide: $8.69
  • Dubrovnik Old Town Audio Guide Tour: $8.81

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kathmandu $5.72
    Dubrovnik $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Dubrovnik

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubrovnik:

  • Columbo Pub Crawl Dubrovnik: $55
  • Day Tour of Korcula Island from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $71
  • Day trip to Korčula and Pelješac with Wine Tasting: $76
  • Half-Day Wine Tasting with Snacks and Ston Place Visit: $76
  • Ston and Korcula Island Day Trip from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $76
  • Interactive Wine Tour: $81
  • Luxury Sunset Tour with Wine Tasting: $83
  • Korcula & Peljesac Wine Tasting Group Tour from Dubrovnik: $85
  • Full Day Korcula and Peljesac Wine Tasting Tour in Dubrovnik: $86
  • Day trip to Korčula and Pelješac with Wine Tasting from Koločep: $87
  • 2-Hour Kayaking at Sunset with Wine Tasting and Appetizers: $94
  • Dubrovnik Kayak Tour + Gourmet Snack + Wine Tasting (Small-Group): $97


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kathmandu and Dubrovnik, we can see that Dubrovnik is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kathmandu is in Asia and Dubrovnik is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Kathmandu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kathmandu and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Dubrovnik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubrovnik than you might in Kathmandu.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kathmandu Expensive? and Is Dubrovnik Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Dubrovnik?

Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Dubrovnik. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu and Dubrovnik, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.